Clothes-line tightener



(No Model.)

. m NI t mm a E h N W W x m UNITED STATES PATENT E icE,

HERMAN'VEDDER, OF SCHENECTADY, NElV YORK.

CLOTHES-LINE TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,877, datedSeptember 14, 1897.

Application filed April 1897.

To aZZ whozrt it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN VEDDER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of NewYork, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-LineTighteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention .relates to devices for tightening clothes-lines, and hasfor its object to provide a clothes-line tightener by means of which aclothes-1ine may be easily and efficiently tightened, the device readilysecured in position for use, and which will be durable and economical.

The invention consists in a clothes-line tightener constructed andarranged as here inafter described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective viewof a clothesline tightener constructed in accordance with this inventionand shown in position for use. Fig. is a plan view thereof with theoperating-lever broken away. Fig. 3 isaside view.

In the construction of this invention I provide a base so constructed asto tit and be secured to an angular or fiat surface support.

1 is the base, of a V or angular shape to fit the corner of a buildingor an angular post and provided with means for attaching it,interchangeably, to an angular or flat surface as,for examplefloy meansof countersunk holes 2 in the sides of the base 1, through which can beinserted screws 3, either in a straight direction rearward to engage aflator angular surface or straight through and at a right angle to eachside of the base 1, the two positions being shown in dotted lines inFig. 2. The base 1 is provided with the arms or bracket-s 4., preferablycast in one piece with the base 1 and each having a perforation 5, inwhich is inserted an end of the shaft 6 of a drum 7, to which the end ofa clothes-line is secured and upon which the line is wound as it istightened.

The drum 7 is secured. to the shaft 3 by means of a pin 8, shown indotted lines in Fig. 2, and extending through the drum and the shaft 6.The drum '7 is provided at one end with the ratchet-wheel 9, eitherformed in one piece therewith or secured thereto in any suitable manner.As shown, one end of Serial No. 633,313. (No model.)

the drum '7 is formed with a square boss or projection 10, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 3, and the ratchet-wheel 9 with a transverse squareopening which permits the ratchet-wheel to be firmly mounted on theprojection 10.

1 Cast in one piece with the base 1 are cars or lugs 11, in which ispivoted a detent-pawl 12, arranged to hang down and rest upon and engagethe ratchet-wheel 9 and prevent the drum '7 from turning back when theline is wound and tightened thereon.

To operate the drum, I provide a suitable lever 13 of considerablelength, so as to be readily reached when the tightener is secured in anelevated position and also to afford a good leverage. The lever 13 ispreferably loosely mounted on the shaft 6 to swing thereon and is formedwith an eye or hole in its inner end, through which the shaft 6 extends.The shaft 6 is mounted in position and removed by forcing it through theholes in brackets 4 and a hole in drum '7, and is secured to drum 7 byforcing in the removable pin 8.

The lever 13 has pivoted thereto on its inner side a pawl 14, engagingthe ratchet-wheel 9 and held in engagement therewith by' a spring 15,mounted on lever 13.

By means of the foregoing construction the operation of the lever 13causes the pawl 14 to slide over the teeth of ratchet-wheel 9 in onedirection and to engage and operate the wheel 9 in the oppositedirection.

The drum '7 may be provided with an y suitable means for securingthereto the end of a line, and as here shown is provided with. two pins16, located at the center of the drum and adapted to engage a knot inthe end of a line 17, as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of the device will be readily understood. The line 17requiring to be tightened, the lever 13 is reciprocated, and in itsdownward swings by the successive engagement of the pawl 14 with thesuccessive teeth of ratchet-wheel 9 the (111111118 turned to wind theline and tighten it, the pawl 12 dropping behind each tooth of theratchetwheel as it revolves and holding the drum from turning backward.\Vhen it is desired to slacken the line 17, the pawls 12 and 1a arereleased from the ratchet-wheel 9, which leaves the drum 7 free to turnand unwind the line.

In order to mechanically release the pawl 14 from the ratchet-Wheel 9,there is preferably employed the lever 18, having the bent end 19, thelever 18 being pivoted 0n the outside of the lever 13 at the angle ofthe bent end 19 at the pivotal point of the pawl 14. The end of the bentportion 10 is provided with a pin 20, projecting laterally across thepawl 14, and the handle end of lever 18 normally stands off at an angleto the lever 13, so that when it is desired to release the pawl 14: thelever 18 is drawn toward the lever 13, which causes the pin 20 torelease the pawl 14 from ratchet-Wheel 9.

Having described my invention, I claim A clothes-line tightener,consisting of an angular base provided with means for securing it to anangular 'or flat support, a drum and ratchet-wheel mounted thereon, adetentpawl engaging said ratchet-wheel, an operating-lever looselyfulcrnmed on the drumshaft and having an operating-pawl engaging theratcheL-Wheel,' and a lever mounted on the saidoperating lever andhaving its han dle adjacent to the handle of the latter, and engagingthe operating-pawl to release the same, set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of April,1897.

HERMAN VEDDER.

.Vitnesses:

E. W. CADY, H. ONDERKIRK.

